Moorpark Calls Hoang Brothers Home Each May

MOORPARK — Field hockey players come and go over the years.

But brothers Binh, Sammy and Tommy Hoang are familiar faces to all involved in the 27th California Cup tournament this weekend at Moorpark College.

The Hoangs, founding members of the Westlake Village Bulldogs in 1984, have played more games of field hockey than you can shake a curved wooden stick at. They remain among only four original members of what has become one of the most prominent club teams in Southern California.

“I guess you could say we grew up with it,” said Sammy, who serves as player-coach. “You make friends and you get used to seeing everybody here.”

All of which makes the annual international tournament a homecoming of sorts.

The California Cup, which began modestly with six teams in 1971, has evolved into the premier invitational field hockey tournament in North America.

A record 110 teams from eight countries will compete in 10 divisions before the tournament concludes Monday. Male and female players range in age from 5 to 65.

Sammy, 29, Tommy 30, and Binh, 24, began the tournament Friday with hopes of improving on last year’s bronze-medal finish in the Men’s Super division, which includes world-class players and a handful of former Olympians.

Men’s and women’s Super division games are played on the college’s artificial-surface field, which is lighted this season for the first time.

After posting a victory Friday against Dehli, India, the Bulldogs were defeated Saturday by Vancouver, Canada, 4-2. The Bulldogs play Mexico in a consolation game today at 12:50 p.m.

“We had a much stronger team last year,” Sammy said.

Despite being eliminated, the Hoangs welcomed the occasion to renew acquaintances with former teammates, many of whom return periodically to play for their former team.

Like a recurring sea fog, former Bulldog players ship out for competition throughout the world but somehow manage to roll together in Moorpark every May.

“Once a Bulldog, always a Bulldog,” Tommy said.

About seven former players returned this weekend, Binh said.

“So many guys who used to play have moved away, but they always come back,” Binh said. “We come out here and we expect to see them.”

Said Sammy: “It’s like any sport. You meet friends and you become so used to seeing everybody here.”

The Hoangs grew up in Moorpark and started field hockey young.

“It runs deep,” Tommy said. “This [tournament] was a big thing out here every year, so we came here and watched. One of our biggest competitors are the Ventura [Roadrunners]. We’ve been playing against them for so long that now we’re starting to play against some of their sons.”

The Hoangs have competed in the Olympic Festival and the Pan American Games. In 1990, they played an integral role in the Bulldogs winning a national club championship.

Tommy, who holds a graduate degree from Pepperdine and works as a financial officer for a medical-equipment company, plays forward “and scores a lot of the goals.”

Binh, who recently graduated from Cal Lutheran and intends to pursue a career in coaching, plays midfielder. Sammy, a graphic designer and Cal Lutheran graduate, plays sweeper.

Mark Ruvacalba, the only other original member of the Bulldogs, recently lost five teeth as the result of a collision with an opponent during a game. Yet, his enthusiasm for the Bulldogs hasn’t waned.

“I’ve played other sports, but there is nothing like this,” Ruvacalba said. “It’s just that it’s so much fun.”